Scholarship Recipients

Andrew Sias

First-year FRCC student and first-time scholarship recipient Andrew Sias enjoys quoting comedian Milton Berle: “If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.” And so he did. Returning to school meant quitting his full-time job and draining what little savings he had. Andrew was awarded two scholarships, the Louis P. Singer Memorial Scholarship and the Gerald Dotson Ph.D. Scholarship, which made college possible.

Like many students at FRCC, Andrew is the first in his family to attend college. His goal is to earn a degree in molecular biology and attend medical school so he can help people who need it most. And it is important to him to be a success and role model for family and friends—to demonstrate that what appears unattainable can be attained through hard work and dedication.  

Life can be tough at times, Andrew acknowledges. He gets up early and goes to bed late; if he is not studying, he is working part time to pay bills. He credits the Foundation’s Student Success Program and its hands-on approach for providing needed help and credits an exceptional instructor for giving him confidence.

“Receiving these scholarships has really meant the world to me,” Andrew explains. “When you make the decision to go to school or go back to school, you need to believe in yourself. That’s a given and a must if you’re going to push yourself to succeed. However, when there are donors you've never met, who see your potential in you, who invest in you on the promise that you will better yourself and not let their award go to waste that is amazing.”

Andrew’s experience with the FRCC community at has taught him that he doesn’t have to face challenges alone. This encouragement underscores how important it is not to let himself or his donors and FRCC support system down.

Nancy Medina-Kochis

Nancy is the mother of a 21-year-old son who was born with Stickler syndrome and requires jaw surgery. She grappled with how she would pay for college and the surgery. She opted to continue to work part time and use saved retirement funds for the surgery. To Nancy, being awarded a Foundation scholarship was both emotional and a privilege.

Her heritage includes Apache and Navajo (Inde or Nide–“the people”), as well as Sephardic Jews from Spain, which made her eligible for the Louis P. Singer Hispanic Student Scholarship established by Midge Korczak in memory of her father. The Foundation facilitates the meeting of donors and scholars, and Nancy emphasizes how grateful she is for Midge’s mentoring and encouragement.

It is central to Nancy to create a future that allows her to give back to the community in a meaningful way. She intends to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. In a first step toward achieving her goal, she has been accepted into Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Integrative Therapeutic Practices Program, which capitalizes on a recent shift in health care toward integrative medicine, combining Western medical treatments with natural therapies.

And she has already given back to the Foundation. Nancy was selected as a Foundation Fellow for the Scholar Success Program, helping other scholarship recipients stay in college, giving support in overcoming any academic challenges they faced, and ensuring they succeed.

Alexandra Hurley-MacVean

Alexandra was in a car accident, which forced her to drop classes and leave her campus job. During recovery, she posted her art on Facebook, and several authors asked her to illustrate their children’s books. “Peanut Butter & Pumpernickel” was published this year, and three other books are scheduled for publication. She also returned to FRCC and is proud to have graduated with honors this year. Today, Alexandra is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a three-time Barnes & Noble featured Artist of the Month.

“My journey as an FRCC scholar has been worth every moment. My sincere thanks to Foundation donors who helped make it possible for my academic dreams to come true.”

Garrett Pope

It didn’t occur to Garrett Pope that a scholarship would be available to a young person like himself interested in becoming a skilled machinist.  Without his Express Employment Scholarship, he could not afford to attend FRCC and would not be on his way to a better future.  

He is very grateful that someone respects and supports his goals and is willing to help him achieve them.

Garrett has to work to supplement his scholarship.  Through his courses at FRCC, he is already employed in the field he loves.  The on-the-job skills he is learning complement his training in FRCC’s  Precision Machining Program, which was designed to meet the needs of Colorado manufacturers who helped develop training classes.  The return of manufacturing jobs from off-shore and the retirement of the baby boom generation have created exceptional employment opportunities.

Like many FRCC students, Garrett credits an instructor he describes as “awesome” for giving him incentive to continue in the program.  “He is not only a mentor, but a role model for what I can achieve in the field of machining,” Garret emphasizes.  “FRCC made a difference in my life by providing a career path not offered at most four-year colleges.”